Police said the Warner Avenue man was spotted at the foot of Second Street on a ledge five feet above the water at 7:50 p.m., saying he would jump in for a swim if police came any closer.
Jersey Journal file photo

A 40-year-old Jersey City man took off all his clothes in front of police and jumped into the Hudson River Sunday night, but was quickly pulled out of the chilly waters with a makeshift life-preserver, police said.

Police said the Warner Avenue man was spotted at the foot of Second Street on a ledge five feet above the water at 7:50 p.m., saying he would jump in for a swim if police came any closer.

The man, who police said was speaking incoherently, began to disrobe and then jumped into the water, according to a police report. Seeing the man shivering in the water, police then tied his clothing to a rope and threw it out to him, police said.

The man, who doctors said had a history of mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse and health issues, grabbed the clothing and was pulled out of the water, police reports said.

The man was treated at the Jersey City Medical Center. Police issued two summonses to the man, one for defiant trespass and the other for disorderly conduct, reports said.